Politics in America, 2012 Election Edition

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Explore how government works Politics in Americaviews politics through the lens of competition for resources--who gets what, when, and how. Through this framework, the book examines the foundations, institutions, behaviors, and policies of the American political system. The accessible narrative provides straightforward coverage of American politics and government. The authors encourage students to talk about and think about controversial issues and public affairs surrounding their daily lives. A better teaching and learning experience This program will provide a better teaching and learning experiencefor you and your students. Here's how: Personalize Learning-MyPoliSciLab delivers proven results in helping students succeed, provides engaging experiences that personalize learning, and comes from a trusted partner with educational expertise and a deep commitment to helping students and instructors achieve their goals. Now compatible with BlackBoard. Engage Students-Presents balanced arguments on highly sensitive issues affecting students today to inspire debate and analysis of current events. Improve Critical Thinking- "What Do You Think" features in each chapter ask students to take sides on controversial issues. Learning Objectives open each chapter, giving students a clear learning path through the material. Support Instructors-A full set of supplements, including an Instructor's Manual, Test Bank, Computerized Test Bank, PowerPoint presentation, and MyPoliSciLab provide instructors with the support they need to teach effectively and efficiently. Note:MyPoliSciLab does not come automatically packaged with this text. To purchase MyPoliSciLab, please visit:www.mypoliscilab.comor you can purchase a ValuePack of the text + MyPoliSciLab (at no additional cost): ValuePack ISBN-10: 0205950108/ ValuePack ISBN-13: 9780205950102.

ThomasR. Dye, Emeritus McKenzie Professor of Government at Florida State University, regularly taught large introductory classes in American politics and has served as president of the Southern Political Science Association, president of the Policy Studies Organization, and secretary of the American Political Science Association. He has taught at the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Wisconsin, and the University of Georgia, and served as a visiting scholar at Bar-Ilan University, Israel; the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C.; and elsewhere.

Ronald Keith Gaddie is Professor of Political Science at the University of Oklahoma, where he regularly teaches the American Federal Government course. He is former president of the Southwestern Political Science Association; he has also been retained by corporations, trade associations, state and local governments and by plaintiffs and defendants in election law and voting rights litigation. Keith is also an award-winning radio broadcaster at NPR radio station KGOU (Norman, OK).

1. Brief Table of Contents

2. Full Table of Contents

1. Brief Table of Contents

PART I: POLITICS

Chapter 1: Politics: Who Gets What, When, and How

Chapter 2: Political Culture: Ideas in Conflict

PART II: CONSTITUTION

Chapter 3: The Constitution: Limiting Governmental Power

Chapter 4: Federalism: Dividing Governmental Power

PART III: PARTICIPANTS

Chapter 5: Opinion and Participation: Thinking and Acting in Politics

Chapter 6: Mass Media: Setting the Political Agenda?

Chapter 7: Political Parties: Organizing Politics

Chapter 8: Campaigns and Elections: Deciding Who Governs

Chapter 9: Interest Groups: Getting Their Share and More

PART IV: INSTITUTIONS

Chapter 10: Congress: Politics on Capitol Hill

Chapter 11: The President: White House Politics

Chapter 12: The Bureaucracy: Bureaucratic Politics

Chapter 13: Courts: Judicial Politics

PART V: OUTCOMES

Chapter 14: Politics and Personal Liberty

Chapter 15: Politics and Civil Rights

Chapter 16: Politics and the Economy

Chapter 17: Politics and Social Welfare

Chapter 18: Politics and National Security

2. Full Table of Contents

PART I: POLITICS

1. Who Gets What, When, and How

Politics and Political Science

Politics and Government

What Do You Think? Can You Trust the Government?

The Purposes of Government

Who’s Getting What? Is Government Getting Too Big?

A Conflicting View: Sometimes It’s Right to Disobey the Law

The Meaning of Democracy

Compared to What? Political Freedom or Economic Freedom

The Paradox of Democracy

Direct Versus Representative Democracy

The Game, the Rules, the Players: Confidence in American Institutions

Who Really Governs?

Democracy in America

> MyPoliSciLab Video Series

> MyPoliSciLab Simulation: You Are a Candidate for Congress

> MyPoliSciLab Explorer: How Do You Measure Freedom?

2. Political Culture: Ideas in Conflict

Political Culture

Individual Liberty

Dilemmas of Equality

A Conflicting View: American Exceptionalism

Income Inequality and Social Mobility

Who’s Getting What? Spreading the Wealth Around

Compared to What? Income and Inequality

Who’s Getting What? Getting Ahead in America

Race, Ethnicity, and Immigration

What Do You Think? One American Identity or an America of Identities? The Smithsonian

What Do You Think? Does Immigration Help or Hurt America?

The Game, the Rules, the Players: Could You Pass the Citizenship Test?